Leading in Chaos

A social climate pervaded by culture wars, tribalism, and identity politics has put school leaders under fire from radicals on both sides of the political spectrum—as well as legislators, parents, and other individuals who no longer respect the very difficult job of educators. In Leading in Chaos, Dr. Jim Largent draws from his twenty-one years as a superintendent to offer guidance on issues faced by education leaders today. His approach includes a blueprint for obtaining your desired job—with a focus on leadership roles in public education—and the transition steps needed to set yourself up for success. Leading in Chaos presents concepts and anecdotes to show you how to work with a variety of people, from bus drivers to board members to irate parents. Additionally, it provides a series of strategies that take leadership back to the bare bones of what actually works; the most effective leadership methods stick to common-sense and time-tested principles.

A social climate pervaded by culture wars, tribalism, and identity politics has put school leaders under fire from radicals on both sides of the political spectrum—as well as legislators, parents, and other individuals who no longer respect the very difficult job of educators. In Leading in Chaos, Dr. Jim Largent draws from his twenty-one years as a superintendent to offer guidance on issues faced by education leaders today. His approach includes a blueprint for obtaining your desired job—with a focus on leadership roles in public education—and the transition steps needed to set yourself up for success. Leading in Chaos presents concepts and anecdotes to show you how to work with a variety of people, from bus drivers to board members to irate parents. Additionally, it provides a series of strategies that take leadership back to the bare bones of what actually works; the most effective leadership methods stick to common-sense and time-tested principles.

Dr. James Michael (Jim) Largent graduated high school in 1983, after which he attended Lamar University and Sam Houston State University. He spent thirty-one years working in several public education roles, including teacher, coach, athletic trainer, principal, and superintendent. Jim is a four-time nominee for the Texas Superintendent of the Year, was named Citizen of the Year in Rusk, and was given the Key to the City of Granbury upon his retirement in 2018. He has written a memoir; published several articles on coaching baseball, politics, and school leadership; and founded a consulting firm. He can be found on golf courses around the country.